As civilization prepares for an impending ice age, a twisted new project emerges, half science experiment and half live-entertainment. It's called Darwin Project and it challenges participants to survive the cold and fight to the death in a treacherous, snow-covered arena.

Darwin Project takes the battle royale genre up north to the Canadian Rockies. Set against a post-apocalyptic backdrop, an impending ice age has kick-started a twisted new reality show, in which participants must fight to the death to earn their survival. Other combatants won’t be players’ only worries though, as the harsh climate will put even the most hardened survivalists to the test.

Darwin Project offers a competitive multiplayer third-person experience with an emphasis on survival. Players must withstand extreme environmental conditions, track opponents, craft tools, set traps, and even negotiate temporary alliances to be the last one standing at sunrise.

Allowing two combatants to put aside their differences and join forces in the arena, Duos will be available for PC users to test from Friday, March 23 at 3:00 PM EDT to Monday, March 26 at 12:00 PM EDT and from Friday, March 30 at 3:00 PM EDT to Monday, April 2 at 12:00 PM EDT on Steam.

Scavengers Studio intends to use data and feedback from these test weekends to fine-tune Duo Mode ahead of its official launch on both Steam and Xbox One, to be announced at a later date. Will you and your partner be able to carve out a foothold as the manhunt heats up? Get ready to test out a whole new set of tactics.

This isn’t the only new content arriving in the snowy Canadian Rockies, though. In addition to a series of community-requested improvements, beginning today on Steam, players can join the hunt with a playable female character, which marks the start of Darwin Project’s customization options. Keep an eye out, as there’s a whole lot more to get excited about in Darwin Project, coming soon!

Darwin Project is now available on Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview for $14.99 USD.